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I began with the headshell more or less parallel to the platter and a VTF (vertical tracking force) of 1.35gm, as routinely used with the 'Hopper IV. A good place to baseline VTF with Grasshopper- and Black Beauty–series cartridges is to apply enough weight that the stylus emerges from the center of the hole in the pole piece (the front face of the cartridge) when under load in a moving groove. This may change over time as the suspension loosens up, so check it again after the cartridge fully breaks in. (van den Hul suggests 200 hours as about right, but you'll be hearing most of what the…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Moving-coil phono cartridge with boron cantilever. Stylus shape: VDH-1S. Stylus radii: 2µm x 85µm. Equivalent stylus tip mass: 0.32mg. VTA: 22°. Frequency range: 5Hz–65kHz. Recommended tracking force: 1.3–1.45gm; 1–1.2gm optional. Output voltage at 1kHz at 5.7cm/s: 500µV RMS. Channel separation at 1kHz/10kHz: >30dB. Recommended load impedance: >200 ohms. Recommended tonearm mass: 6–10gm.
Price: $4000 (1999). Standard rebuild: $500. Approximate number of dealers: 35.
Manufacturer: van den Hul BV, The Netherlands Web: www.vandenhul.com.…
Sidebar 2: J-10's Mini R2D4
I'm putting the LPs I spun in a sidebar because the albums are all my absolute favorite best-of-the-best, and heartily, hugely recommended to all music lovers.
Jazz-wise, you can't lose with Milt Jackson and John Coltrane's Bags & Trane (Atlantic 1368), The Modern Jazz Quartet (Atlantic 1265), and Bags Groove (OJC-245, with Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke—what a lineup!). Then there's The Timekeepers/Count Basie Meets Oscar Peterson (Pablo 2310-896), It Don't Mean a Thing If…
Sidebar 3: Associated Equipment
The Forsell Air Force One did most of the work, with brief but musical moments on Ms. Spotheim's La Luce turntable and SpJ arm. The Forsell and its Flywheel sit atop a pair of Signal Guard II anti-resonance platforms, which help greatly in isolating them both from the environment. Phono cable was exclusively XLO Signature. A good deal of time was logged on the Nagra PL-P preamplifier, using its hot-rod tape outs and with its internal MC transformers engaged, volume adjusted with the input potentiometers. Other preamps included the YBA Signature 6 Chassis…
I have not seen Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, and I am not likely to. But the phrase cultural learnings of America is a good jumping-off point for an important topic: cultural literacy.
I am in favor of cultural literacy—at least in theory. In practice, though, problems can crop up. "Cultural literacy" is the notion, fostered by thinkers such as Allan Bloom (The Closing of the American Mind), former Education Secretary William J. Bennett (The Book of Virtues), and E.D. Hirsch (Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know),…
6. Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced?
For further listening: Stevie Ray Vaughan: Texas Flood. B.B. King: Live in Cook County Jail. Bill Frisell: Have a Little Faith.
For further listening: Stevie Ray Vaughan: Texas Flood. B.B. King: Live in Cook County Jail. Bill Frisell: Have a Little Faith.
Hendrix burst upon the psychedelic music scene in 1967, but he had served a long and difficult apprenticeship in the R&B clubs of the South. He was also an accomplished jazz player. The story is told that Les Paul walked into a club, heard Hendrix auditioning, was flabbergasted, but had to leave before Hendrix had finished playing. Assuming that Hendrix had been hired, Paul later asked the club owner when…
Sidebar: Musical Cultural Literacy For Americans!
1. George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
2. The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds
3. Willie Nelson: Red-Headed Stranger
4. Miles Davis: Porgy and Bess
5. Christopher Parkening: Parkening Plays Bach
6. Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced?
7. Duke Ellington: Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
8. Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run
9. Roy Harris: Symphony 3
10. Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
11. Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark
12. Steely Dan: Aja
The Cultural Results Are In
In my April 2007 "Fifth Element" column I invited readers to submit their lists of 12 works or recordings that exemplify American musical life—music that people should be aware of, if they aspire to cultural literacy in American music.
The response was very gratifying—just about 65 entries. It was wonderful to see how many readers really know and passionately care about music! The overall quality of the lists was very good. Picking 12 winners was not easy. At all.
I must stress that my judging was entirely subjective and idiosyncratic. I gave…
FIVE STARS
David Lovell, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
List No.1:
David Lovell, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
Dear John Marks, You have set a fascinating challenge. You state that the ability to engender a passionate response means more to you than other more intellectual justifications. I suggest that both attributes are needed to whittle the list down to mere 12. Writing from across the pond may I give you an outsider's take on US musical culture that is significant in terms of impact, enjoyability and accessibility? I agree with many of your choices; some with modifications, but feel that you have omitted some…
THREE STARS
Peter Aizupitis
Dear Mr. Marks, As to compositions/recordings that would give, in your words, " an idea of what American musical life was about," I just have not been able to rank them according to importance, and after the first three entries, which are in response to your choices, they are given more or less in chronological order. I also mention alternate versions. In any case, like yours, my list would also include:
List No.3:
Peter Aizupitis
Dear Mr. Marks, As to compositions/recordings that would give, in your words, " an idea of what American musical life was about," I just have not been able to rank them according to importance, and after the first three entries, which are in response to your choices, they are given more or less in chronological order. I also mention alternate versions. In any case, like yours, my list would also include:
1. Roy Harris: Symphony No.3
(I continue to enjoy the old Leonard Bernstein Columbia LP; maybe it is time to investigate the…